Missouri Upsets No. 1 Kansas

Kansas couldn’t win them all, especially the way things had been going lately.

The top-ranked Jayhawks ran out of great escapes Tuesday night, losing, 96-94, in double overtime to Missouri.

Corey Tate picked up a loose ball near the free-throw line and scored with 5.6 seconds to go in the second overtime--and two seconds left on the shot clock--as Missouri handed the Jayhawks, the last undefeated team in Division I, their first loss of the season.

“I’ve said a million times it was unrealistic,” Kansas Coach Roy Williams said of going unbeaten. “But that doesn’t mean the loss is good.”

It was a career-maker for Tate, a senior who has been a role player. Tate was aware of the shot clock, and the magnitude of the attempt.

“I just heaved it up and it went in,” said Tate, who finished with 14 points. “It’s a special memory and I’m going to treasure it for as long as I can.”

The only team in the last 17 years to go undefeated in the regular season was UNLV in 1990-91. The last undefeated national champion was Indiana in 1976.

Kelly Thames had 24 points and 11 rebounds and Derek Grimm had 20 points for Missouri. Grimm fouled out in the first overtime and Thames fouled out with 1:15 to go in the second overtime.

It was the second consecutive overtime game for Kansas, which hasn’t played much like the best team in the nation lately, especially with starting center Scot Pollard sidelined because of a broken foot and point guard Jacque Vaughn struggling. Before this game, Kansas, 22-1 overall and 8-1 in the Big 12 Conference, survived an overtime scare from Nebraska on Saturday and had close calls against Texas Tech and Colorado before that.

On paper, Missouri (12-10, 4-6) didn’t look like much competition. But the victory makes Coach Norm Stewart 8-9 against Williams.

“It was really a great ballgame,” Stewart said. “I think that’s one of the best games I’ve seen all year.”

Kansas players were taking the loss in stride.

“An undefeated season wasn’t on our minds. It was probably more on your minds,” Raef LaFrentz told reporters.

On the game-winner, Tyron Lee was stripped by Vaughn when he attempted to drive the lane. Tate picked up the ball and didn’t hesitate to shoot.

“We tried to trap them there at the end, wanted something to happen a little quicker,” Williams said. “We thought we had the loose ball, but it just bounces free and Tate picks it up.”

After Tate’s basket, Kansas ran out of time before it could get off a shot. LaFrentz launched a three-point attempt that was off the mark after the buzzer had sounded.

LaFrentz had 26 points for Kansas, including an offensive rebound of a missed foul shot that tied the game at the end of regulation. Jerod Haase added 20 points and Vaughn had 19 points and nine assists in his best game in nearly a month.

Jason Sutherland added 18 points for Missouri after going scoreless in the first half.

* NO.3 KENTUCKY FALLS. C4